County OKs Imation Plant Pollution Plan

Calling it a landmark agreement, the Board of Supervisors approved a deal Tuesday between Ventura County and Imation Corp.’s Camarillo plant that allows the company to define its own measures to control the air pollution it causes.

The contract is part of a federal pilot program aimed at reducing air pollution from companies. Dubbed the Project XL proposal, the plan allows companies to decide for themselves how to meet government-set standards.

County air pollution control officials said the deal effectively lowers the number of tons of pollution that Imation--formerly called 3M--can emit into Ventura County skies each year.

But it also allows the company to determine how to best meet the lower standard and still turn a profit.

“This is the ultimate experiment in flexibility,” said Richard H. Baldwin, the county air pollution control officer. “It’s an effort to try to do business in a different way.”

Under the pact, Imation agreed to limit its air emissions to 150 tons per year, well below the 263 tons per year allowed under existing regulation.

“Our factory’s plan ensures that environmental performance goes beyond compliance, while enabling our factory to be more competitive,” said Chuck Byrne, plant manager for Imation’s operation, which manufactures data cartridges and employs 650 people.

But some environmentalists complained that the agreement allows Imation to sell “credits” of allowable annual air pollution tons to other firms, in effect allowing new pollution into the air.

“It may be good for business, but it harms people’s lungs,” said Russ Baggerly, president of the Citizens to Preserve Ojai group.